By Paul Collins
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What a turkey: TV chef Jamie Oliver
Manchester City have been linked with every star player around the world but a celebrity chef has become their latest big-name signing.
TV chef Jamie Oliver has signed a five-year deal with the club to provide matchday food for supporters at the Etihad Stadium.
The 37-year-old, whose 30-minute meals are known to take about 90 minutes to prepare, will provide food for all public concession stands, as well as the hospitality areas and the City Square fan zone.
The deal will begin for the start of next season — so it's good old pies, pasties and pints until then.
Tom Glick, chief commercial and operating officer, told the Manchester Evening News: 'It is our ambition to create a world-class customer experience for everybody who visits the Etihad Stadium. We are looking forward to working with these two leading brands as we continue to develop our stadium to achieve this aim.'
Nigel Harris, managing director of Jamie Oliver's Fabulous Feasts added: 'Fabulous Feasts has proven over the last couple of years that we can deliver world class food on a grand scale.
'Our passion for providing tasty food to the public is second to none and so we're enormously excited to be working with Manchester City to offer what we believe will be the best stadium catering in the Premier League.
'We've been in discussions with the club for many months and we now have a dedicated team in place to ensure that the hospitality at the Etihad Stadium is truly something special.'
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Meanwhile, Gareth Barry is determined to ensure that Arsenal are shocked by more than just Mario Balotelli's new hairstyle this weekend as Manchester City aim for a first league win at the Gunners since 1975.
'I wasn't aware it had been so long,' the England midfielder told. 'Football is like that sometimes but 37 years is extraordinary. Records like that are rare but are there to be broken.
'We have to go to the Emirates, play as well as we know we are capable of and see if we can put an end to our poor run of league results on their ground.'
Tony Book was in charge when City secured a 3-2 triumph at Highbury in 1975. They did win a League Cup quarter-final at the Emirates last season but have not actually scored a league goal at Arsenal since DaMarcus Beasley's effort in the 3-1 defeat in 2007.
Bogey team: City have not won at Arsenal since 1975
Arsenal impressed at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season when they were unfortunate to find themselves held to a 1-1 draw.
'They surprised me just how good they were that day,' said Barry.
'They will be disappointed they've not played as well as that more often this season.
'We know there is a need for us to keep winning games because seven points (to leaders Manchester United) is not a small gap and we can't allow that to increase.
'But sometimes the pressure can actually flip around to the team in front and the one chasing can go into games more relaxed.
'We're not going to let it overly worry us at this point.'
The food at City is already fair priced and very tasty. As someone who moaned for decades about the rubbish served up on and off the pitch its great to see City leading the way - and at good prices too. Went to the theatre of nightmares at OT to watch the Olympic Games ladies semi finals. Garbage food , high prices, unclean toilets. City are leaving their Trafford rivals standing. Can't wait for Jamie's good grub.
- ericlo , Manchester, 10/1/2013 18:24
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